Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 2308 into law on June 11, which designates $50 million to research ibogaine, a psychedelic that could be used to treat addiction, traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress. 

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission will select a consortium that

consists of a state university, drug developer and hospital to research the psychedelic, according to the bill. Greg Fonzo, co-director of the UT Charmaine & Gordon McGill Center for Psychedelic Research and Therapy, said the institution is interested in researching ibogaine under the grant program. If selected, consortium members would have to match the state’s investment of $50 million, according to the bill. 

“We talked about it internally about how we might be able to get involved in this effort,” Fonzo said. “Partnering with a pharmaceutical company that would be willing and interested in putting up that quantity of matching funds would be the main challenge.” 

The center has experience researching ibogaine. Currently, it is working on a study on the use of ibogaine for combat-related mental health issues in special operations forces veterans, according to the Fonzo Lab website.

The grant program and investment wouldn’t be able to expand the current ibogaine study at the University, but it would allow the University to pursue new research aimed at gaining FDA approval for ibogaine to be used in clinical trials for medical purposes. 

For the University’s current study, it partnered with The Mission Within, an organization that provides psychedelic treatment to veterans and their spouses. 

Dr. Martín Polanco, founder of The Mission Within, said the results of treatment are always rewarding to see.

“Never gets old,” Polanco said. “After they complete their retreat and they’ve done ibogaine, you can see right away their body posture is more open. Their face is softer. Their eyes are sparkling.”

Polanco said ibogaine works on psychological and physiological levels. It helps people resolve the root of traumas and takes away symptoms of withdrawal. 

Logan Davidson, the executive director of Texans for Greater Mental Health, a psychedelic education and advocacy organization, said that despite Texas being a conservative state, it is often a catalyst for change.

“This was a coalition effort that brought Texans together from across the state, from across the political spectrum, from across varied backgrounds,” Davidson said. “(They challenged the) Legislature to do something that had never been done before.”